After 5 years in the CNCF sandbox, Metal3.io has successfully moved to incubation. This talk shares our journey from niche idea to the go-to mature Kubernetes native bare metal lifecycle management solution, detailing the final push that resulted in a smooth TOC due diligence process. We'll discuss practical approaches to governance consolidation, security documentation, and adopter engagement when public references are limited. Learn how we used CNCF community tools for honest self-assessment, addressed company diversity concerns, and turned potential blockers into documented strengths.

Key insights include finding the right balance between thorough preparation and pragmatic readiness, engaging adopters who prefer to stay private, and demonstrating project maturity after an extended sandbox period. Also, you'll learn more about our plans and steps forward towards Graduation. Useful for projects planning their own incubation journey.